Since June, two hikers have been confirmed killed, one is missing presumed dead, and one has been missing since November 23, in the area near Longs Peak and Mt. Meeker, both near Boulder, Colorado. If the missing hikers aren’t found alive, that makes four deaths in that one small stretch of the Rockies in the last six months. Aside from the geography, the one constant shared by each hiker: All four were alone when they set out on their hikes.
The most recent case, a 20-year-old Air Force cadet, left no notice of his plan when he started his hike. When he didn’t turn up back home, a search and rescue mission was organized. They found the missing hiker’s car parked at the Long’s Peak trailhead—Long’s Peak is a popular 14er in the Denver/Boulder area—but had little idea of where to look since he’d not told anyone of his plans. Severe winter weather has since gripped the area.
These four instances drive home the point that there is an inherent danger to venturing deep into the backcountry alone.
But solo hiking, especially on multi-day trips, is, or can be, incredibly fulfilling. Nothing develops confidence and skills in the backcountry nearly as quickly as figuring things out on your own. Navigating, route finding, decision making—all are lessons learned deeply and thoroughly when you can’t rely on somebody else to spot the trail, decide on a distance, or read a map. It’s empowering to overcome fears in the backcountry, and often when solo, especially in unfamiliar places, oh, there will be fears.
Though the fear is only one part of the experience. There’s a quietness, a relaxation, an uninterrupted connection with the wilderness that only solo hiking can bring. Without talking to anybody else, your senses just absorb sights, sounds, and smells. It’s also far, far more flexible than dealing with a group, or even duo excursions. Plus, you can move at your own pace, stop when you like, end a hike whenever you like. Taking on trails and backcountry trips on your own—at a level that doesn’t far outstrip your abilities—is a joy and a wonderful feeling.
Provided you go about it the right way, because there are far more dangers out there when you’re by yourself. Getting lost can happen even in groups, but if you’re injured, or otherwise incapacitated, being on your own can quickly become life-threatening. Satellite communicators can help with emergency SOS functions, but they’re no substitute for a companion who can go for help.
If you’re considering big-time solo hikes, and are new to the exercise, there are a few fundamentals to remember. First, tell people your plans—where you’re going and when you expect to return. Second, stay on your planned route. Off-trail hiking is awesome, but best done by people with advanced navigation skills. Third, know your limits and how comfortable you are pushing beyond them; being realistic can keep you from biting off a whole lot more than you can chew. Fourth, be at least a little aware of what negative things can happen, so if they do, say, if you do get lost, you’ll hopefully have already instituted a plan. Finally, strongly consider a messaging device, like the Garmin inReach.
Solo hiking is a truly magnificent and empowering experience. No reason it should be a life-threatening one.
You need something to read? We have something to read!
Adventure Journal’s print stories are only available in print. They are deeper, longer, and more nuanced than what you find online. Find out why 99% of subscribers renew every single year.
Order a subscription and current issue you today and most U.S. address will have their copy in three days. West Coast addresses it’s 1-2 days.
Well you didn’t quite leave enough boxes to check. I hike alone with the Desert Dawg almost daily, off trail and in remote areas. No one knows where we are going and we don’t until we start wandering. Then, on shorter trips of 2-4 days a map and compass are usually enough although alone I leave a plan and approximate return time with a trusted friend. Bigger trips bring the InReach and a detailed plan. Don’t forget to leave beer and chips in the truck at the trailhead.
Dawg!
it’s amazing how many people never learned how to read a topo map and use a compass. If you have those two things the odds are you will have other gear you need to stay safe.
after that respect nature and maybe don’t try to set any personal best records. extreme fatigue can lead to accidents
The percentage of people who depend on a electronic device and it’s ability to communicate with satellites in high orbit is telling… Gadgets are great, I’ve got a bunch, but they are no replacement for basic skills and sound judgment.
Totally agree. Also, a big big difference between depending on an electronic device and using it as a helpful tool. I always carry an inReach and have GPS apps, but I’m depending on my paper topo, my compass, and my own senses. But I can tell my wife where I am with the inReach, and if I want to find out exactly how much further it is til my next water source, I can use the GPS to find out.
I agree, there weren’t enough boxes to check. I have traveled solo and backpacked alone for years. I leave a detailed plan with family/friends. I carry a good map, compass and extra food. And I am confidant of my backcountry skills. Most importantly, I know my limitations and while I don’t mind a really difficult trail, if route finding is challenging, then I know it’s not a trail for me to go alone. What I do find, when hiking or backpacking alone, I pay much more attention to my surroundings. When I go with my husband, I let him navigate and find I am less aware of my immediate surroundings.
I don’t see “I carry a firearm” on the list. Works for me.
Bear spray. Works on bears and humans.
It’s amazing how many people take unnecessary risks. I consider myself an extremely competent backcountry hiker, but still let people know my plans, and for the last 6-8 years won’t go without my ResQLink PLB. No matter how good you are, sickness, accidents, weather, etc. can still surprise you.
I enjoy my hikes far too much to take risk making it my last.
map and compass have worked just fine for me for the past 35 years, When going out for more tha a day, I have started carrying a plb the past 5 years. It doesn’t change anything for how I travel, but gives my wife peace of mind and that matters to me.
Come on, I expect more for AJ than click bait. I’ve hiked all over New England, CA and CO alone. I know my limits, carry the 10 Essentials and can read a map.
These are stories I’d expect from Backpacker.
Do better next time, please.
Classic response. Articles like these are why I ditched Backpacker and Outside decades ago.
Agreed. This last fellow headed up toward Longs wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants…not close to prepared. Nothing scary or unsafe about being out alone, but you have to be reasonable about the risks.
I hate sharing trails with others, yet make a point to have some interaction, however brief. If I go missing, then hopefully someone will remember that interaction with my dog and I, making it easier for the authorities and my friends to find me.
Bigfoot might to be blame.
I have to agree – the poll isn’t set up well at all and if you actually want it to be useful would have more meat to it.
As for going alone…
Fortunately or unfortunately we are in 2018, which means that in addition to skills to hopefully keep us out of danger, we do also have PLB’s, we also have amazing weather forecasting, we also have more means of communicating with friends and family than ever before. Thus if one decides to go alone – which is great, one should use the information and tech available to do so safely – not only for themselves, but thinking of those who have to risk their own lives in a rescue should one have to be carried out.
Yes! Please think about your friends, family, and the search & rescue people who might have to go search for you. You are not invincible – shit happens. Seems pretty selfish and naive to think otherwise… Be realistic about your capabilities and be prepared for the conditions. Tell someone where you’re going & when you plan to return and if you can, take some kind of SOS device or tracker so if something does happen someone can actually have a chance at finding you! S&R risk their lives to save yours so please don’t take that lightly!
In WA state a few years back, a mother and daughter were both shot dead hiking, probably by drug dealers and/or growers. Their killers still haven’t been found. At some point in your life, you have to think if it’s really worth it living in this violent dumpster nation, with all the ignorant right-wing gun nuts, and the criminality our entire system and society engenders from top to bottom. I’m out of this dump of a nation. Nice natural parks. Travel with a group. Two people is not enough to stop criminals.
Pretty sure drug growers ae not “right wing gun nut” silly bear
tell people your planned route, map & compass, sidearm, constantly look for landmarks to return to, and last but not least for me, hike with a canine, as there nose can be trusted to a large xtent to return you to point “a”. (I’ve even trusted horses I’ve owned to return me on trails).
One point not yet discussed is the danger that social media can play here.
Example: This past summer an attractive college girl popped up on my IG feed. She was hiking the PCT alone and posted very frequent updates along with locations and plans, lots of video updates etc… To be honest, I was shocked. After seeing a few of her posts I sent her a PM and suggested that she lay off the super detailed updates for her own well being. She never answered, perhaps thought I was some super creepy guy, but man with all the weirdos out there, I would NEVER post as much as she did. Doing so seems like it’s just inviting trouble.
None of these people were “killed;” they likely died from exposure, perhaps exacerbated by a fall or injury, and guns are illegal in National Parks, and would you use it to shoot yourself? I’ve ventured alone in winter to (pretend I was going to) climb the east face of Long’s. I was modestly experienced in winter ventures, was well-equipped and spent the nights in tight bergschrund crevasses or the Agnes Vaile rock shelter, without incident, but have lost friends who were just as skilled. Winter in the Colorado mountains comes with whatever first storm arrives in later October, and ends only after the last one in May. You can jog up Flattop in shorts one day, and succumb to hypothermia in full winter gear the next as weather dictates. These were all obviously ill-equipped hikers, both in winter gear, and winter mindset. Many mistakes made in summer can result in shivering through a miserable, cold, usually wet night and a morning exit hike wearing all your clothes and still shivering to the car. Mistakes in winter conditions rapidly escalate; I worked up so much heat in to Chasm Lake that I stripped to my long sleeve shirt and rolled the sleeves up; on stopping to rest, as the sun disappeared and wind picked up, I realized while I was comfortable overall, my exposed forearms had left my finger muscles rigid and immobile, even though nowhere near frozen; I could neither open my pack or move a zipper. It was funny, but only because I knew I could warm them enough to clumsily don more layers. Hubris, brash overconfidence seems shared by the victims’ histories; this led them well beyond the point at which they needed to turn around. Overextending past a safe turnaround point, shelter sites are sparse and one might survive if a wind break and dry layers are sufficient. Frostbite may impede progress in the morning, but by then the objective is living until rescued. Unfortunately, once awareness of the predicament sets in, panic leads to overexertion, then fatigue, exhaustion and chills which slip painlessly into hypothermia, hallucinations and sleep. Rescues have pulled a few back from this point, to safety in time to be revived, but it is a matter of minutes. No satellite phone will save you, especially when winds and blowing snow ground all search efforts. You are irrevocably on your own, and those searchers will be shifting into recovery mode, and urgency level will shift to spring thaw timeline. I’ve known some who, while underequipped, did not panic, stopped before exhausting themselves, dug snow troughs and survived multiple nights out with no permanent injury. With a partner, you have another pair of hands in a lesser crisis, and a second opinion about each other’s status; you also have shared responsibility for one another, which can help you decide to go back before your friend is put in jeopardy. Once beyond sight of your car, every winter mountain venture becomes serious, possibly life-altering.
Firearms haven’t been illegal in national parks since 2010.
Fire up a Google prompt to review the caveats and/or nuances, but firearms haven’t been illegal in national parks for a while now. Most of the obvious has been well noted (i.e. comms, nav skills, common sense, hiker interaction, etc.). Though telling that something as obvious and prudent as a sidearm was omitted from choices.
Been doing extended (week+/triple digit mileage) solos (mostly in deep winter) for many many years.
Feel safer doing that than walking down a city sidewalk.
Best piece of advice I have is this.
The most important piece of gear you will ever possess is the gear between your ears.
…use it.